Humphreys
4/13/2008
Access from Reno, NV:
US 395 south
CA 168 west
Buttermilk Road south to snow closure
I hiked/skinned up the remainder of the road, then up McGee Creek and finally over the bergschrund at the base of the northeast couloir of Mount Humphreys. I booted up the couloir finding rotten snow at the choke. I finally made my way up to the top of the couloir, dropped my skis and pack and scrambled up to the top. I returned and descended down the couloir finding wind-affected powder at the top, rotten facets and solid ice at the choke, more wind-affected powder below the choke and corn on the glacier and down McGee Creek. I measured the slope angle in the couloir at 49 degrees.
Elevation: 6110’
Distance: 12 miles
Time: 8 h
Mount Humphreys and my route
Mount Humphreys and its twin couloirs
Mount Humphreys, the northeast couloir, bergschrund and glacier. My tracks are visible on the glacier.
Map